Former Prince Andrew’s August 2001 email to Ghislaine Maxwell, requesting new “inappropriate friends”, appears in the Justice Department’s latest Epstein files.
Email Exchange Revealed
The Justice Department’s third release of its Jeffrey Epstein files included an August 2001 email thread between Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, and Ghislaine Maxwell. The first message, sent from an address labeled “The Invisible Man”, began:
> “Have you found me some new inappropriate friends?”
The sender added that he was free from 25th August until 2nd September and wanted to “go somewhere hot and sunny with some fun people before having to put my nose firmly to the grindstone for the Fall.” He concluded with, “Any ideas gratefully received! See ya A xxx.”
Maxwell replied a few hours later, saying:
> “So sorry to dissapoint you, however the truth must be told. I have only been able to find appropriate friends,” she wrote. “Will let you know about some church meetings on those dates. Kisses Gx.”
Two days after that, the original sender wrote a terse response: “Distraught!” He added, “You probably wouldn’t know but I lost my valet on Thursday. He died in his sleep. He had been with me since I was 2,” and continued, “I am a little off balance as not only has my office been restructured, I have left the RN and now my whole life is in turmoil as I have no one to look after me. He was a real rock and almost a part of the family.”
Context of the Correspondence
The email exchange occurred after Mountbatten-Windsor retired from the Royal Navy in July 2001, about a month before the messages were sent. The abbreviation “RN” in the reply is a reference to the Royal Navy.
The sender’s claim that he was at “Balmoral Summer Camp” is likely a nod to Balmoral Castle, the royal family’s Scottish estate. The identity of the sender is not disclosed in the documents, but the signature “A.” indicates the sender was Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
Legal and Royal Repercussions
In November 2022, King Charles stripped Andrew of his royal titles following the publication of a posthumous memoir by Virginia Roberts Giuffre, an Epstein survivor. The memoir detailed allegations that Giuffre had been sexually assaulted by Andrew on three occasions, including an “orgy” involving eight other young girls.
The Justice Department has stated that nothing in the released Epstein files warrants investigation or prosecution of any third parties, and Andrew has never faced criminal charges. Nevertheless, the public release of the email exchange adds another layer to the scrutiny of his relationship with Epstein and Maxwell.
Settlement with Virginia Giuffre
In 2022, Andrew settled a civil suit with Giuffre. While he did not admit wrongdoing in the settlement, he acknowledged Giuffre’s suffering as a victim of sex trafficking. Giuffre denied ever meeting Andrew and claimed a widely circulated photograph of the two was not real. She died by suicide in April 2023.
Aftermath and Public Response
The release of the email exchange has prompted calls for further transparency. NBC News sought comment from Andrew’s office, but received no response. Buckingham Palace also declined to comment. The lack of official statements has fueled speculation about the depth of Andrew’s connections to Epstein’s network.
Key Takeaways
- Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor sent an August 2001 email to Ghislaine Maxwell asking for “new inappropriate friends.”
- The exchange was released in the Justice Department’s latest Epstein files.
- Andrew retired from the Royal Navy in July 2001 and was later stripped of his royal titles in November 2022.
- A 2022 civil settlement acknowledged Giuffre’s trauma but did not admit wrongdoing.
- No official comment has been made by Andrew’s office or Buckingham Palace.
The email exchange offers a rare glimpse into the private communications between a former royal and a key figure in the Epstein scandal, adding new detail to an already complex narrative.
